Chicken Newbie in North Texas

[AccidentalTexan]

My husband and I are getting ready to move to the country. We are so excited to be on 4 acres that we can hardly stand ourselves We're starting to make plans for the animals we want to have and came across this awesome site. We would love any suggestions on breeders you may have for us. We're going to be researching and building our coop in early June. How soon do we need to place an order for chicks? Do you recommend starting with baby chicks or getting a more mature flock to begin?

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your new homestead! Always fun to escape the city and move to the country. And what better livestock to keep than chickens!!

You might want to start by doing some reading in our learning center here on BYC to help you get started and raising your new flock....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

As for whether to start with chicks or started birds, this is entirely up to you. I prefer chicks as not only do you know their history, but you can bond with them much easier. Where as started birds, you may not now the conditions they have come from and you will have to work more with them to tame them down. But started birds will be laying earlier!! You could go with both and have the best of both worlds.

Here is a couple of nice breeds pages so you can get an idea about the different breeds and their attributes....

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

As for where to get them, you might want to get your order in soon as chicks are being bought up like crazy now! Some feed stores are still carrying them, and so are the big hatcheries like Murray McMurray, Ideal, Cackle, Privett, My Pet Chicken, and others. You can even check our Buy Sell and Trade section for breeders, eggs, chicks and started birds from BYC members...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/67/buy-sell-trade

You can even check your state thread and chat with other members nearby you that might have some birds or chicks for you...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you

Well, this should get you started. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. Enjoy this new journey you are on and welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new home and Good Luck with the move! Looks like TwoCrows has you covered with lots of great links to check out. You might want to look in the BYC Coops section for ideas for your new coop https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

 

[hungnguyen]

Hello from Central Texas.. Austin

 

[gander007]

Great to have you joining the BYC flock

 

[AccidentalTexan]

Thanks for the warm welcome and suggestions for getting started. We are beyond excited.